Ironing appliance with a base having a tank for the production of steam under pressure

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns an ironing appliance comprising a base ( 1 ) including a vessel ( 2 ) for producing steam under pressure provided with a filling orifice ( 3 ) closed with a removable plug ( 5 ), characterized in that the apparatus comprises linking means ( 6 ) connecting the removable plug ( 5 ) and the base ( 1 ) when the plug is in an open position providing access to the filling orifice ( 3 ).

The present invention relates to an ironing appliance having a baseprovided with a tank for the production of steam under pressure andrelates more particularly to an ironing appliance in which the vessel isfitted with a filler hole closed by a removable cap, or plug.

Known ironing appliances include a tank for the production of steamunder pressure with a filler hole closed by a removable cap that can bescrewed into the filler hole. Such an appliance is, for example,described in the document FR 2 706 587.

However, with such appliances, the user does not know where to place thecap when it has been removed from the hole to fill the tank. The cap isthus most frequently placed on the base, with a significant risk offalling, exacerbated by the cylindrical shape of the cap, which tends tocause it to roll. Now, the cap may be damaged during the fall, withpossible consequences on the safe use of the appliance.

Therefore, a goal of this invention is to remedy these problems byoffering an ironing appliance in which the risks of falling of the capfor closing the filler hole are eliminated.

To this end, the invention has for its object an ironing applianceincluding a base with a tank for the production of steam under pressurewith a filler hole closed by a removable cap, wherein the appliance hasconnection means connecting the removable cap to the base when the capis in an open position permitting access to the filler hole.

Such a characteristic allows the cap to be prevented from falling whenit is removed from the filler hole.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the connectionmeans are constituted by an articulated arm connecting the cap to thebase.

Such an arm has the advantage of ensuring proper and rapid placement ofthe cap against the filler hole during closing of the cap.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cap isrotatably mounted on the articulated arm.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base has ahousing enclosing the tank for production of steam under pressure, thearticulated arm being carried by the housing.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the removablecap is immobilized facing the filler hole by fastening means allowingthe rapid opening and/or closing of the cap by rotating it through lessthan one turn.

Such a characteristic allows a great ergonomics of use of the appliance,particularly during periodic tank filling operations.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cap isconnected to the end of a pipe surrounding the filler hole by means of abayonet type connection.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cap includes ahandle projecting radially from the cap.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the handlecomes to operate a safety switch when the cap is properly closed.

Such a safety switch will enhance the safe use of the appliance bypreventing operation of the appliance and more particularly heating ofthe tank when the cap is not properly closed.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the applianceincludes guiding means raising the cap at the end of its opening travel,when the cap is not retained on the filler hole by the fastening means.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the applianceincludes a safety body preventing the opening of the cap when thepressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined threshold.

The goals, aspects and benefits of this invention will be betterunderstood from the description given below of a particular embodimentof the invention presented as a non-limiting example, referring to theattached drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A to 1C are perspective views of a base of an ironing applianceaccording to a particular embodiment of the invention, the closure capbeing shown in different positions in these figures;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the closure cap coming to facethe filler hole of the tank of the appliance of FIGS. 1A to 1C, thehousing of the appliance not being shown in this figure;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view, partly exploded, of the closure capof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the appliance of FIG. 1C;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of the base of the appliancealong line VI-VI of FIG. 4, when the tank is respectively at atmosphericpressure and under pressure.

Only those elements necessary for understanding the invention have beenshown. To facilitate the reading of the drawings the same elements havethe same references from one figure to another.

FIGS. 1A to 1C show an ironing appliance having a base 1 comprising ahousing 10 containing a steam generating tank 2, visible in FIG. 2.

Tank 2 comprises conventionally heating means for the production ofsteam under a maximum pressure of about 4.5 bars and a solenoid valvedesigned to be connected to an iron by a cord, not shown in the figures.

Tank 2 is advantageously made of stainless steel material with athickness of 1.2 mm and presents a filler hole 3 around which is weldedor soldered a filler pipe 4 closed by a removable cap, or plug, 5.

More specifically according to the invention, the appliance includesconnection means 6 connecting cap 5 to base 1 when cap 5 is open toallow access to the filler hole 3. In an advantageous manner, thesetypes of connection means are formed by an articulated arm 6 connectingcap 5 to housing 10.

When cap 5 is open, articulated arm 6 is returned by a return spring 60,visible in FIG. 2, into a substantially vertical position illustrated inFIG. 1A, in which arm 6 is immobilized by an end of travel abutment.

According to FIGS. 2 and 3, articulated arm 6 has an elongated body 61,of substantially rectangular cross section, which is furnished at oneend with an articulation axis 62 mounted to pivot at the edge of housing10, the other end supporting a circular ring 63 receiving cap 5.

Cap 5 advantageously opens rapidly and is rotatably mounted on arm 6 ina manner to pivot by one-third of a turn between an unlocked positionshown in FIG. 1B and a locked position shown in FIG. 1C.

Cap 5 has a cover 50 presenting a substantially circular body with adiameter of about 6 cm coming to cover ring 63, the upper edge of thelatter comprising a small diameter forming a shoulder 63A under which adisc 51 comes to be engaged. Disk 51 pivots inside circular ring 63 andpresents a peripheral edge whose upper surface comes close to shoulder63A of the circular ring.

Disc 63 and cover 50 are made of a polyamide material and are fixed toone another by assembly pieces 52, carried by disc 51, which are fittedin tubes 50A carried by lid 50.

The coupling of cap 5 on filler pipe 4 is provided by a jaw 53 ofhardened stainless steel material having a thickness of 2.6 mm, which isdisposed between cover 50 and disc 51. Jaw 53 has two symmetrical claws53A traversing two lateral notches 51A of the disc and coming to engageunder ramps 40 formed by a folded edge at the end of filler pipe 4 toform a bayonet type connection, the folded edge having locally twocutouts 41 for the passage of claws 53A.

In a preferred manner, claws 53A of the jaw and ramps 40 of thestainless steel tubing material are covered with Teflon or processed byimmersion in a bath of tin, then possibly covered with a varnish topromote sliding during opening or closing of cap 5.

Jaw 53 has two oblong holes 53B in which are inserted two assemblypieces 52 so that the rotation of cover 50 entrains rotation of jaw 53,oblong holes 53B allowing a slight rotational deflection of jaw 53 withrespect to lid 50, return springs 54 being provided to bring jaw 53 inabutment against one end of oblong holes 53B.

As shown in FIG. 3, disc 51 has a central opening 51B surrounded by aperipheral sleeve into which comes to be inserted central brass core 55,the upper end of central core 55 being inserted into a central opening53C of jaw 53. Core 55 has a first shoulder 55A coming to be supportedagainst the edge of central opening 53C of the jaw and presents a groove55B receiving an elastic ring 58 axially blocking jaw 53 on core 55,core 55 however being able to turn freely relative to jaw 53.

The lower part of core 55 receives a annular joint 56, which is engagedelastically in a groove defined in its upper part by a second shoulder55C, the latter having an external diameter corresponding substantiallyto the outer diameter of joint 56.

Such a shoulder 55C allows pressing sealing joint 56 against the edge offiller hole 3 when jaw 53 of the cap is screwed on filler pipe 4, as isillustrated in FIG. 5, ramp 40 of the pipe extending helicoidally sothat the rotation of jaw 53 is accompanied by an axial translation ofcore 55 toward filler hole 3. During closure of cap 5, the free rotationof core 55 relative to jaw 53 has the advantage of applying the joint 56axially on the edge of hole 3 without entraining the latter in rotation,which permits limiting considerably the wear of joint 56 due tofriction.

Joint 56 is advantageously made of EPDM (ethylene propylene dienemonomer) or silicone and has a minimum height of 4 mm and preferably ofthe order of 10 mm, so that it can be compressed, when the cap 5 isscrewed on 4 filler pipe, to a minimum of 10% of its height and amaximum of 30%, depending on manufacturing tolerances. Such acharacteristic allows to ensure both a good watertightness and asignificant lifetime of joint 56 by allowing it to maintain a goodelasticity over time.

In an advantageous manner, filler pipe 4 is equipped with an opening 42,or a lateral notch, permitting evacuation of excess water possiblypresent in the filler pipe.

Filler opening 3 advantageously has a diameter of between 20 mm and 40mm, and preferably of the order of 30 mm, so as to allow a rapid fillingor emptying of tank 2 without however excessive force on ramps 40 of thefiller pipe as a result of pressure exerted on cap 5. For example, adiameter of 30 mm for the hole provides for a filling or emptying of 1liter of water in 6 seconds.

To facilitate the handling of cap 5, cover 50 includes a radiallyextending handle 57, the side face of handle 57 coming to operate asafety switch 7 preventing activation of the heating means of tank 2when cap 5 is not completely closed. This safety switch 7, shown indotted lines in FIGS. 1A to 1C, is carried by housing 10 and is disposedat the end of travel of the trajectory swept by handle 57 during closingof cap 5. A signal light 70 is associated with this safety switch 7 soas to alert the user on the state of safety switch 7 and therefore onthe correct closure of cap 5.

In an advantageous manner, handle 57 incorporates a pressure indicatorformed by a lever 8 pivoting inside the body of the handle 57 about anaxis 80, this lever 8 having a rounded tip 81 coming opposite an opening57A formed in the lower wall of handle 57 and an indicator surface 82moving next to a window 57B provided in the upper surface of the handle.

This lever 8 is intended to cooperate with a safety body 9, carried bytank 2, having a finger 90 able to be moved vertically as a function ofthe pressure in the tank, finger 90 passing through housing 10 at thelevel of a hole 10A facing opening 57A of the handle when the latter isin the closed position illustrated in FIG. 1C.

The operation of safety body 9 and its interaction with pressureindicator lever 8 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 6 illustrates the position of safety body 9 when the pressuredifference between tank 2 and atmospheric pressure does not exceed 0.02bar.

According to this figure, safety body 9 is then in lowered position inwhich the end of finger 90 of the safety body is flush with the topsurface of housing 10. Lever 8 in the handle then occupies a firstposition into which it is moved by gravity. In this position, lever 8 isin abutment against the underside of handle 57, the rounded end 81 ofthe lever then being located inside hole 57A so that a first zone 82A ofindicator surface 82 lies next to window 57B. In an advantageous manner,this first part 82A of indicator surface 82 is green in color toindicate that the user can open cap 5. In effect, when safety body 9 isin this position, handle 57 is not blocked against rotation by finger 90and can be easily turned by the user.

When the pressure difference between tank 2 and atmospheric pressure isgreater than 0.02 bar, for example following activation of the heatingmeans, finger 90 of the safety body is moved upwardly as illustrated inFIG. 7. In this position, finger 90 of the safety body is engaged inhole 57A of handle 57, preventing any rotational movement of cap 5. Theinsertion of finger 90 through hole 57A is accompanied by pivoting oflever 8 into a position in which a second part 82B of indicator surface82 is next to window 57B, this second part 82B advantageously being redin color in order to alert the user of the impossibility of opening cap5 because of excessive steam pressure prevailing in tank 2.

The user is then obliged to wait until the pressure in tank 2 fallsbelow the threshold of 0.02 bar to open the cap. This drop in pressureoccurs naturally when the temperature of the tank 2 drops and can beaccelerated by the user by actuating, for example, the steam deliverytrigger with which the steam iron is equipped.

In the case of a tentative opening of cap 5 while the finger 90 isengaged in the handle 57, the slight rotary deflection existing in theconnection between handle 57 and jaw 53, because of the presence ofoblong holes 53B, allows to not leave the safety finger 90 under alateral constraint, the return springs 54 tending to return handle 57into a correct position with respect to safety finger 90. The risk thatthe safety finger 90 is stuck in the upper position by lateral forcesgenerated by handle 57 is thus eliminated.

In order to facilitate the opening of cap 5 and to counter a possiblepressure drop being able to occur in tank 2 during cooling of thelatter, there is provided, on the surface of the housing 10 swept byhandle 57, a ramp 10B disposed at the end of the rotational openingtravel of cap 5. This ramp 10B, shown in FIG. 4, presents a height ofabout 3 mm, which assures the lifting and pivoting of handle 57 and thusof joint 56 during the rotation of cap 5 for its opening, creatingexposure of tank 2 to the air.

Such an appliance has the advantage of providing a great ergonomics inuse in holding the cap when the latter is removed from the filler hole,thus avoiding any dropping of the cap. Moreover, the articulated arm hasthe advantage of ensuring proper placement of the cap against the fillerpipe during closing of the cap so that the risks of improper engagementof the cap are eliminated. This last characteristic is particularlyimportant in the case of a mating of the cap on the pipe by a screwturn, because it eliminates the risk of deterioration of the threads andblocking of the cap, which could happen if the cap is not properlyengaged.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described andillustrated that have been given only as an example. Changes arepossible, especially from the viewpoint of the constitution of variouselements or by substituting equivalents, for all without leaving thefield of protection of the invention.

Thus, in the example shown, the core is hollow and has a central cavityclosed by a wall ensuring the watertightness of the cap. However, in avariant of construction, not illustrated, the central cavity mayreceive, in a manner known per se, a safety valve subjected to thepressure in the tank through a hole formed in the wall. The safety valvecould for example be arranged to open beyond a pressure of 6 bars so asto prevent any defect in regulation of the heating means of the tank.

Thus, in a variant of construction, not illustrated, the coupling of thecap on the filler pipe may be effected conventionally by screwing thecap in several turns instead of a bayonet connection.

1. Ironing appliance comprising a base (1) having a tank (2) comprisingheating means for the production of steam under pressure, the tank (2)being furnished with a filler hole (3) closed with a removable cap (5),wherein the appliance includes connection means (6) connecting theremovable cap (5) to the base (1) when the cap is in an open positionpermitting access to the filler hole (3).
 2. Ironing appliance accordingto claim 1, wherein said connection means are formed by an articulatedarm (6) connecting the cap (5) to the base (1).
 3. Ironing applianceaccording to claim 2, wherein the cap (5) is rotatably mounted on thearm (6).
 4. Ironing appliance according to claim 2, wherein the base (1)includes a housing (10) containing the tank (2) to produce steam underpressure and that the articulated arm (6) is carried by the housing(10).
 5. Ironing appliance according to claim 1, wherein the removablecap (5) is immobilized opposite the filler hole (3) by fastening meansallowing rapid opening and/or the closing of the cap (5) by rotating itthrough less than one turn.
 6. Ironing appliance according to claim 5,wherein said cap (5) is connected to the end of a pipe (4) surroundingthe filler hole (3) through a bayonet type connection.
 7. Ironingappliance according to claim 4, wherein the cap (5) includes a handle(57) projecting radially from the cap (5).
 8. Ironing applianceaccording to claim 7, wherein said handle (57) comes to activate asafety switch (7) when the cap (5) is properly closed.
 9. Ironingappliance according to claim 5, wherein said appliance further comprisesa guiding means raising the cap (5) at the end of the opening movementof the latter, when the cap (5) is not retained on the filler hole (3)by the fastening means.
 10. Ironing appliance according to claim 9,wherein said appliance further comprises a safety body (9) preventingthe opening of the cap (5) when the pressure in the tank (2) exceeds apredetermined threshold.
 11. Ironing appliance according to claim 1,wherein said appliance further comprises a safety body (9) preventingthe opening of the cap (5) when the pressure in the tank (2) exceeds apredetermined threshold.